Lot Essay

Nantei, born in Kyoto, studied under Maruyama Okyo (1733-1795) and worked with Okyo pupils such as Nagasawa Rosetsu (see lot 113) and Yamaguchi Soken (see lot 183) from the Kyowa to Bunka eras (1801-17). The poems about beauties and flowers are by Kan Sazan (1784-1827), Rai San'yo (1780-1832) and an unknown writer. Sazan, a poet and scholar in Bingo province, had a deep friendship with San'yo, who in turn helped Sazan run a private school. Shunsui, San'yo's father, wrote in his diary that Sazan owned some paintings by Nantei.